7th May, 2014
Adebobola Alawode
Returnee Super Eagles striker, Osaze Odemwingie has expressed excitement over his return to the team after being overlooked many times by the technical crew of the team.
The Stoke City Football Club of England player was among the 30-man provisional World Cup list submitted yesterday by Coach Stephen Keshi.
The former Insurance of Benin player was involved in a dispute with Coach Keshi after being omitted from the squad for the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations that the Eagles eventually won after a 19-year wait.
Shortly after learning of his recall, Odemwingie took to social network and twitted @OdemwingieP thus: ‘‘Thanks for the congratulations. The return of the prodigal son Channels tv said? Anyhow una call am I am pleased to be back??.’’
On why the former West Bromwich Albion forward was recalled into the Eagles, Coach Stephen said that the forward apologised to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the technical crew.
According to the former Hawks of Togo coach ‘‘Odemwingie apologised to the NFF and myself so we have arrived at the conclusion that he has admitted that he erred we had to extend the olive branch to him.’’
Meanwhile a FIFA licensed Football Agent Princely Nwafor is of the opinion that Odemwingie was forced on Coach Keshi by some board members of the NFF.
Nwafor warned that Odemwingie’s recall into the squad may cause a sort of distraction in the team: ‘‘We all know it is a World Cup year and it is the dream of every player to be at the Mundial, what I really don’t know is the rationale behind recalling him when we know what he is capable of doing off the field of play.’’